Dear Matéo, (II)

I remember

[this greatly impacted me]

 

Playing games with you,

     Running into each other with couch cushions.

Convincing our brother

     That maple tree seed pods were candy.

That your favorite books were not mine -

     Perl, Java, C++, HTML, and SQL.

Playing on the banister of the landing,

     Then going down to the family room to play some more.

 

When we would dress up at grandma's house,

     You always chose to be an owl.

You learned to take the greatest caution

     When trying anything I had made with food.

Next you learned not to try anything

     That I had made, regardless if others would eat it.

But then you learned that I had learned

     And now you aren't as wary about what I cook.

 

Your mind always excelled

     At computer games and programming.

You started stamp collecting,

     But stopped somewhere along the way.

Instead you collected coins

     And various currency of intrinsic value.

You were prudent and wise,

     A natural outpouring of your character.

 

You thought me and our brother strange,

     But loved us nonetheless.

You never really cried,

     I can't remember a single instance.

You worked hard at school,

     And always tried to do your best.

You were a major influencing factor

     In my own geeky streak.

There are little snippets

     Here and there without pattern

Of things that I remember.

     And I remember them well.

Now you're moving onward with your life,

     You always have been.

I pray that God who has seen you through thus far

     Shall continue to do so 'til the end.

Sincerely,

Your sister